FACT SHEET: DROWNINGS IN IRELAND
Drownings in Ireland in 2010 classified by Cause, Gender, Age and Area
Total Drownings in 2010: 112. This is the lowest figure since 1952 when 104 people drowned. The highest figure recorded in any one year to date is 229 in 1994.
Ireland averaged 150 drownings each year in the decade to 2010.
Cause of Drownings:
Accidental: 33
Suicide: 51
Undetermined: 28
Irish Water Safety (IWS) has identified a number of general contributory factors over the years including: poor or inadequate equipment (e.g. boats or lifejackets); not wearing a correctly fitted lifejacket; alcohol consumption; falling unexpectedly into water; improper use of boats and equipment; overestimation of skills; lack of local knowledge when travelling in Ireland; not being able to swim or not having lifesaving and water survival skills; easy unauthorised access to waterways; cold and current. (For further information check out the Irish Ware Safety web site).
The Chairman of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) in his 2010 report refered to
“Emerging trends in the causes of leisure and recreational casualties. In marked contrast to improving general safety awareness in the fishing industry, recreational activities are growingly marked by an ignorance of the potential dangers inherent in recreational boating and other water borne activities.
There is increasing evidence that a proportion of people using vessels for recreational purposes on Irish waters are either unaware of the dangers inherent in these activities, but more importantly seem to be unaware of the dangers inherent in excessive alcohol consumption whilst on board or operating a vessel, or else people operating such vessels or being on board such vessels consciously choose to ignore the dangers and risks involved which has unfortunately had fatal consequences.”
Gender Breakdown:
Male: 75
Female: 37
Age: All age cohorts are represented, with a spike in the 55 – 64 age cohort.
Areas where drownings have occurred: Drownings have occurred in all counties and in both coastal and inland waters.
Drownings in Ireland 1996 to 2009
Year / 2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / 2003 / 2002 / 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998 / 1997 / 1996Accidental drowning / 54 / 45 / 54 / 53 / 47 / 48 / 51 / 62 / 86 / 52 / 66 / 68 / 55 / 75
Suicide / 45 / 50 / 75 / 63 / 63 / 87 / 90 / 76 / 76 / 83 / 87 / 122 / 111 / 87
Undetermined / 45 / 62 / 27 / 15 / 21 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 15 / 16 / 22 / 18 / 8 / 6
Assault / 1 / 1
Totals / 153 / 158 / 156 / 131 / 131 / 149 / 153 / 148 / 177 / 151 / 175 / 208 / 174 / 168
Regulations - Current Position
The following regulations were introduced in 2005:
‘the master or owner of a pleasure craft, shall not, or shall not allow another to, operate or control or attempt to operate or control the craft while he or she or the other is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the craft.’
‘A person on a pleasure craft shall not consume alcohol or drugs or any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol while on board the craft in circumstances which could affect the safety of persons or create a disturbance on board the craft or affect the safety of other persons using Irish waters or constitute a nuisance to such persons.’
‘A person being towed or on board a vessel or object of any kind which is being towed by a pleasure craft shall not consume alcohol or drugs or any combination of drugs or drugs and alcohol.’
July, 2012